Water-controlled fuel system.



H. LEMP.

WATER CONTROLLED FUEL SYSTEM APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1907.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

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HERMANN LEMP, F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC GOM- PANY, A CORIEORATION OF NEW YORK.

WATER-CONTROLLED FUEL SYSTEM.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 9, 1907.

Patented J an. 3, 1911..

Serial No. 361,449.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, HERMANN Learn, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VI ater- Controlled Fuel Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to motor vehicles driven by a steam engine taking steam from a boiler, and its object is to provide means whereby the flow of liquid fuel from the reservoir to the burner is controlled automatically by the pressure in the water feed pipe. Under normal conditions the fuel and the water are fed under pressure by means of independent pumps. Should the amount supplied be in excess of the demand upon the boiler, an increased vapor tension will result. This is utilized to open a bypass in the water circuit, whereby the water will return to the tank without passing through the boiler. The decreased water pressure which results from the opening of this bypass is utilized to open a bypass in the fuel circuit, allowing the fuel to return to the reservoir without going to the burner. During the. time that the fuel bypass is open, a pilot flame is maintained by means of an auxiliary fuel-feed pipe, through which the fuel flows by gravity. As soon as the steam pressure falls to the normal value, the bypasses close automatically, and the usual feed from the pumps is resumed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a system embodying my invention, and Fig. 2. is a vertical section of the water bypass.

The steam engine 1 may be of any desired type, the one shown being a four-cylinder engine of compact construction. On the shaft is an eccentric 2, provided with a con necting rod 3 which cooperates with a variable stroke device 4 of any suitable construction, and capable of being controlled by a manually-operated shaft 5. By means of the variable stroke device motion is imparted to the counter-shaft 6, carrying rockerarms 7 and 8, which impart motion to the piston-rods 9 and 10 of the pumps 11 and 12; the former being the fuel pump and the latter the water pump. A fuel reservoir 13 is shown located above the pump so that the fuel will flow to the latter by gravity. Similarly, the water tank 14 is elevated above the pump 12.

At 15 is shown a burner, and a boiler is shown conventionally at 16. In this boiler the temperature of the water is gradually increased to the point of vaporization, after which the steam is superheated. This type of boiler is commonly known as a. coil boiler. My invention may also be used with flash boilers or other types of boilers, preferably with those in which steam is rapidly generated.

Liquid fuel flows from the reservoir 13 by gravity througii the pipe 17 and the T coupling 18 to the pump 11, from which it is forced through the pipe 19, the T coupling 20, the check-valve 21, and the T coupling 22 into the burner 15. The water flows by gravity from the tank 14 through the pipe 23 to the pump 12, from which it is forced through the pipe 24, the cross coupling 25 and the check-valve 26 into the boiler 16. The steam passes by way of the pipe 27 and the T coupling 28 down to the engine 1. Under normal conditions these parts are all that are in service.

Attention will now be given to the bypasses which operate automatically under abnormal conditions to check an excessive supply of fuel and water. The fuel bypass comprizes a casing 29 inclosing a needle valve 30 which passes through a stuffing box 31 and controls the communication between a pressure pipe 32 leading from the T coupling 20 to the casin 29, and a discharge or relief pipe 33 leading from said casing to the fuel reservoir 13. The needle valve has a head 34 engaging a movable abutment, such as a diaphragm 35 which is clamped by bolts 36 between the end of the casing and a cover 37. A compression spring 38 encircles the valve, abutting between the head 34 and an adjustable screwplug 39 in the casing, and tending to open the valve. A pipe 40 is screwed into the cover 37, and connects the space between the cover and the diaphragm with the water feed pressure pipe, by means of the cross coupling 25. The water pressure thus holds the needle valve normally closed against the tension of the spring 38. The cross coupling 25 is also connected by a pipe 41 with a casing42 in which is a valve 43 resting on a seat 44 and kept closed not only by the water pressure but also by a spring to compressed bet-ween the valve and an adjustable screw plug 46. The valve is preferably provided with wings 4t? to guide its movements. Below the valve a pipe s8 is screwed into the casing and connects it with the water tank 1 1. in order to open this valve automatically when the steam pressure exceeds the normal, the following mechanism is pro vided. in the upper end of a casing 4L9 is arranged a movable abutment, such as a diaphragm 50, clamped to the casing by a screw cap 51 into which enters a pipe 5:2 leading from the l" coupling 28 in the steam pipe. Under the diaphragm is a piston 53 having a piston rod or stem 54 passing down through the casing and encircled by a heavy spring 55 whose tension can be adjusted by a screw plug 56 in the lower end of the casing 49. This spring is strong enough to resist the normal steam pressure.

The stem 54 passes out below the casing 19 and rests upon a lip 57 at one end of a lever 58 which is fulcrumed in hangers 59 depending from the casing. The bearing is pre erably a knife edge 60 carried by the lever and supported on hardened seats 01 mounted in the hangers. In the other end of the lever is held the screw-threaded adjusting plug 62 which is locked in position by the pinch screw An upright rod 64rrests on the adjusting plug and extends up through a tubular boss 65,with its upper end touching the lower end of the valve 13. The casings 4:2 and 19 are preferably integral with a common base 66, to which is secured a cup 67 iuclosing the hangers and the lever. Under normal conditions the parts remain in the positions shown in Fig. 2 in the drawing. But in case the amounts of fuel and water supplied to the burner and boiler are excessive, the resulting increased steam pressure acting on the diaphragm 50 will overcome the tension of the spring 55, the stem Set will. be forced down, the lever 58 oscillated and the valve raised, permitting water to pass from the pipe itthrough the pipe 1-1 to the casing and thence by the pipe T8 back to the tank l t. The check valve 26 prevents any bacl-t pres sure from the boiler affecting the operation so that the pressure in the pipes 10 and i1. becomes very much less than before. The result of this is that the spring 38 is permitted to open the needle valve 30, and the fuel is thus allowed to bypass around the burner into the reservoir 13. This ces ation of the fuel supply would extinguish the fire, were it not for the auxiliary supply pipe 68 connecting the "1' coupling 18 in the fuel pipe 17 with the T coupling 22 in the fuel. pipe 19, a check valve 69 being interposed between the two couplings. This cross connection permits a supply of fuel to flow to the burner by gravity when the supply from the pump is bypassed, and thus a pilot flame will always be maintained. The check valve 69 prevents any fuel being forced back into the reservoir when the pump 11 is feeding fuel to the burner under normal running conditions. As soon as the steam pressure falls to the normal value, the springs and close the water bypass, the water pressure in the pipes 24-. 4-0 and 1-1 resumes its usual stress, the tension of the spring 38 is overcome, and the fuel bypass valve 30 is closed, thereby compelling a resumption of the fuel feed to the burner from the pump and automatically checking the flow through the cross connection 68.

in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, l have described the prii'u ciple of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represci'it the best en'ibodimeut thereof; but l desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out. by other means.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,--

1. The combination with a boiler, of a tire chamber, source of water supply, means for supplying the boiler with water from said source, a source of fuel supply, means for supplying the tire chamber with fuel from said source, a bypass which diverts the water supply from the boiler under certain conditions and returns it to the source of supply, a device for opening and closing the bypass, and means controlled by the variations of the water pre re for regulating the tiow of fuel to the tire chamber, said means including a member which is subject ed at all times to the pressure of the water supply and a mechanical pressure device that opposes the action of the water pressure on said member.

2. The combination with a boiler, of a burner, pumps for supplying the boiler and the burner with water and fuel respectively, a bypass for diverting the water supply from the boiler under certain conditions, a valve controlling the water bypass and responsive to changes in the vapor tension in the boiler, and means subjected at all. times to the water pressure and controlled thereby for regulating the flow of fuel to the burner.

The combination with a boiler, of a burner, pumps for supplying the boiler and burner with water and fuel respectively, a bypass for diverting said water from the boiler under certain conditions and returning it to the water pump supply, a bypass :t'or diverting said fuel from theburner under certain conditions and returning it to the fuel pump supply, a device controlled by the vapor tension in the boiler for regulating the water bypass, and a device subjected at all times to the pressure of the water sup ply and controlled thereby for regulating the fuel bypass.

4. The combination with a boiler, of a burner, pumps for supplying the boiler and the burner with water and fuel respectively, a bypass for diverting said water from the boiler under certain conditions and returning it to the water pump supply, a valvecontrolling the water bypass which opens in response to an abnormal pressure of the steam, a bypass for diverting said fuel from the burner under certain conditions and returning it to the fuel pump supply, and a valve in the fuel bypass which opens in re sponse to a drop in the water pressure.

5. The combination with a boiler, of a burner, means for supplying said boiler and burner respectively, with water and fuel under pressure, means for bypassing said water and fuel when the steam pressure rises above the normal, and means for supplying the burner with fuel by gravity during the time that the pressure supply is interrupted.

6. The combination with a boiler, of a burner, pumps for supplying the boiler and burner with water and fuel respectively, a bypass for diverting said water from the boiler under certain conditions and returning it to the water pump supply, a normally closed valve in the water bypass, an abutment exposed to the steam pressure and connected with said valve, a bypass for diverting said fuel from the burner under certain conditions and returning it to the fuel pump supply, a valve in the fuel bypass, an abutment exposed to the pressure of the water and operating to hold said valve closed, and a spring tending to open said valve when the water pressure is reduced.

7. The combination with a boiler, of a fire chamber for heating the boiler, a pump for supplying water from a suitable source to the boiler, a pump for supplying fuel from a suitable source to the fire chamber, suction and delivery conduits between the source of fuel supply and the pump and between the pump and the fire chamber respectively, a bypass leading from the fuel pump delivery to the suction side of said pump, a regulator for the fuel supply which controls said bypass, and a means acted upon at all times by the pressure of the water before it enters the boiler for actuating the regulator to relieve the pressure of the fuel delivered to the fire chamber and to return said fuel to the suction side of the fuel pump under certain conditions.

8. The combination with a boiler, of a fire chamber, a pump for supplying water to the boiler, a pump for supplying fuel to the fire chamber, a regulator for the fuel supply, a regulator for the water supply, a means acted upon at all times by the pressure of the water before it enters the boiler for actuating the regulator and relieving the pressure of the fuel delivered to the fire chamber, and a means acted upon by the pressure of steam from the boiler for actuating the water regulator and relieving the pressure of the water delivered to the boiler.

9. The combination with a boiler, of a burner, pumps for supplying water to the boiler and fuel to the burner, means for driving the pumps so that they will normally supply water and fuel in proportional amounts, a valve for the fuel supply, a means for opening the valve when the pressure of the water before it enters the boiler is reduced to a predetermined point, and a valve acting on the water supply system before the water enters the boiler which is sensitive to the vapor tension of the boiler.

10. The combination with a boiler, of a fire chamber, means for supplying the boiler and the chamber with water and fuel respectively, a bypass in the water circuit, a bypass in the fuel circuit, and means subjected at all times to the pressure of the water supply and controlled by said pressure for regulating the flow of fuel through said bypass.

11. The combination of a boiler, a source of water supply for the boiler, a water pump, conduits between the source and the pump and between the pump and the boiler, a by pass leading from the conduit between the pump and the boiler to the source of water supply, a regulator in the bypass, a conduit leading from the steam space of the boiler to the regulator for controlling its action by the steam pressure, a burner for heating the water in the boiler, a source of fuel supply for theburner, a fuel pump, conduits between the source and the pump and between the pump and the burner, a bypass leading from the conduit between the pump and the burner to the source of fuel supply, a regulator in the fuel bypass, and a conduit from a point in the main conduit between the water pump and the boiler to said regulator for controlling its action by the water pressure.

my hand this sixth day of March, 1907.

HERMANN LEMP.

Vvitnesses:

JOHN A. Moh IANUs, Jr., PHILIP F. HARRINGTON.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set 

